The ECOWAS Commission successfully organised the first meeting of the Strategic Steering Committee of the Africa Trade Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme —ECOWAS component—from June 17 to 19, 2026, in Banjul, The Gambia.

Funded by the European Union under the Global Gateway initiative and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC), the program aims to strengthen the competitiveness of regional value chains and improve market access for West African businesses.

The meeting brought together representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, the UEMOA Commission, the European Union Delegation, ECOWAS member states, Mauritania, regional private-sector organisations, and the program’s implementing agencies (UNIDO and ITC).

Participants reviewed progress made since the program’s launch on June 17, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria; the program’s governance and coordination mechanisms; the report on the selection of priority value chains; and the six-month work plan.

Following the deliberations, the Committee adopted the terms of reference for the Strategic Steering Committee, approved the report on the selection of value chain selection, and validated the two priority value chains identified by the programme, namely, formulated complementary foods and pharmaceuticals.

The six-month work plan was also adopted, accompanied by recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional coordination, stakeholder participation, and the effectiveness of the programme’s implementation to support measurable progress.

Kalilou Sylla, the commissioner for economic affairs and agriculture, reiterated the programme’s vital importance to the region, which is undergoing rapid economic and geopolitical change.

Mr Sylla suggested clear indicators and a collective commitment so that, by the end of the project, measurable results could be demonstrated: an increase in the share of trade, a rise in local pharmaceutical production, and a meaningful reduction in customs barriers.

The representatives commended the progress made and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the program’s effective implementation for the benefit of member states and the regional private sector.